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John Rich Reveals 'Venomous' Environment of 'Apprentice'

Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

John Rich is still making the media rounds after being crowned the latest 'Celebrity Apprentice' by Donald Trump on Sunday (May 22). The singer-songwriter, who fought until the bitter end for his charity, St. Jude Children's Hospital, sat down on the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' to talk about his experience on the hit NBC show, and the respect he will always have for actress Marlee Matlin, who came in second in the finale.

"There was no way to think [I would win] because Marlee is such a fierce competitor," John tells Ellen. "I'm a huge proponent of her charity [The Starkey Hearing Foundation], but at the end of the day I was fighting just as hard for the kids of St. Jude ... It was just an absolute honor to even be competing with someone like Marlee Matlin."

The married father of one admits it wasn't always an easy environment to be in. "It was pretty venomous at times," he acknowledges. "There's a lot of great ladies that were over there. Part of my strategy was to not engage in craziness or drama, and to try to diffuse it if you can. I was the Project Manager when the Meatloaf meltdown happened."

What gave him the winning edge over some of his competitors, including NeNe Leakes, LaToya Jackson, Gary Busey and Star Jones, was reminding himself why he was on the show. "They were still fighting in the finale, but you're there for your charity," he notes. "At the end of the day we wound up raising $1.4 million."

The Texas native says he isn't through raising money for his favorite cause. "Eric Trump (son of Donald Trump) is on the board of St. Jude," John explains to The Boot. "We're immediately going to talk about an annual event that I can put on and make a goal of $1 million a year. Hopefully, that'll continue a long time. I have a song called 'For the Kids,' [and] 100% of the song goes to St. Jude."

John is hitting the road this summer with Big Kenny for a summer full of Big & Rich shows, including stops in Missouri, Pennsylvania and Canada. See their tour schedule here.


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markhelfgott

pbutler111-The fact that Trump's son is on the board of the same charity that Rich has nothing to do with who gets picked as a winner. There is no conflict of interest. Do you know how many charities these people are on?

May 31 2011 at 1:18 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
pbutler111

How is Trump's son being on the board of one of the chairities involved in this competition not a conflict of interest? Sounds to me like no one else ever had a chance of winning. What a charade! And so typically Trump.

May 31 2011 at 12:27 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to pbutler111's comment
Bill

....what kind of despicable human being are you, that you would find it necessary to inject your personal politics into this story. That Donald Trump and his family share their time and wealth to help those less fortunate than they are..., is a good thing. If you were familiar with the concept of 'Celebrity Apprentice,' you'd know that every participant has a chance of winning. To suggest that John Rich.. in some way.. was aided by Eric Trump... is pure hogwash ... born out of your cockamamie political leanings. What a dope!

May 31 2011 at 12:58 AM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
njsearay310

John Rich deserved to win because unlike his peers on the show he never let the pressure compromise the reason he was there. Star Jones is a lawyer through and through. She found a way to make herself the victim every chance she got. Nene might be "ghetto" according to another post but at least she calls them like she sees them and can spot a phony a mile away.

May 30 2011 at 11:08 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Karen

Very good cause - but it didnt hurt having Trumps son on the board of his charity.

May 30 2011 at 10:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jujiboatman

I should also add thanks to GOD above.

May 30 2011 at 9:00 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
jujiboatman

Thank you John Rich for winning all that money for St Judes, my little neighbor who is 8 goes their and I really thank you and St Judes for all the help your money and the doctoring their giving her to heal her and cure her. Thank you

May 30 2011 at 8:52 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
fobesq

Will someone tell him "at the end of the day" is old and tired? Or is it still being used in his part of the country? He is a joke.

May 30 2011 at 8:35 PM Report abuse -4 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to fobesq's comment
Bill

...will someone please ask 'fobesq' to make some sense!? Of whom do you speak? Him? He is a joke? is there a reference here anywhere?

May 31 2011 at 1:02 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
almmj

Marlee was just OK. Star was better then marlee. John Rick was the rightful winner of the game but Star Jones should have been 2nd. Marlee was good at delegating but she was not overseeing the delagation....she allowed the pushy, loud Meatloaf to run the campaigns. I thought she got points for being deaf.

May 30 2011 at 8:14 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Hey Pop!

Unfortunately, I missed the finale, but was so happy when I learned John Rich won! He was definitely the clear winner. Also although I've always been a fan of Lil Jon I'm a bigger fan now! My hope was for the two Jon's to go head to head. Was never sure why Nene was even on the show and never a Star fan and much less now. She's such an arrogant Ms. know it all idiot. She should have been booted in the beginning.

May 30 2011 at 8:02 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
massybob

What on earth was John doing on the ellen degenerate show? If someone can win apprentice why would they lower themselves to the level of that degenerate?

May 30 2011 at 7:50 PM Report abuse -6 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to massybob's comment
jayg

he was on for his charity, get a life loser. the man raised a lot of money for his charity and so he continues to raise money, i guess you cant understand that

May 30 2011 at 8:38 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
dd's

what do you have against ellen? she is one of the funniest women on the planet and her talk show is very poplular.

June 01 2011 at 11:52 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply

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